Station of an aerial vehicle carrier on cable

ABSTRACT

Station of an aerial carrier on cable, including automotive vehicles designed to roll on carrying cables of the carrier, the station including a turntable to perform a change of direction of the vehicles, the turntable supporting rails configured to support a vehicle stopped facing a platform securely united to the turntable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a station of an aerial carrier on cable for collective transportation of people, having automotive vehicles rolling on the line on carrying cables of the carrier, and more particularly passenger loading/unloading stations, used in particular in an urban environment.

State of the Art

Carrying cables are essentially used in the known cableway technology where vehicles, suspended on the latter, are hauled by hauling cables, in either back-and-forth or noria manner.

International Patent application WO2011/161333 can be cited disclosing an aerial installation for transporting people comprising two carrying cables and a vehicle rolling on the cables.

Rolling tracks equipped with carrying cables have a multitude of advantages, especially in an urban environment, as they are silent and occupy a small amount of space. They do however present a major drawback—they can only be rectilinear, i.e. they do not enable the vehicles to change direction on the line.

Changes of direction are therefore only possible via an angle structure. In general, this structure is an angle station with loading/unloading of passengers.

In transport installations, in particular in urban transport, the transit rate and travel time (as well as user comfort) count enormously, and stops in stations therefore have to be as short as possible.

Object of the Invention

The object of the invention consists in overcoming these shortcomings, and more particularly in providing means for speeding up the transit rate of vehicles rolling on carrying cables of an aerial carrier, while allowing loading/unloading of passengers, and more particularly persons with reduced mobility, in complete safety with a maximum of comfort.

According to one feature of the invention, a station of an aerial carrier on cable is proposed comprising automotive vehicles designed to roll on carrying cables of the carrier.

The station comprises a turntable to perform a change of direction of the vehicles, the turntable supporting rails configured to support a vehicle stopped facing a platform securedly united to the turntable.

Such a station can simultaneously perform a change of direction of the vehicle as well as loading/unloading of passengers, including persons with reduced mobility, in complete safety and comfort. The station thereby enables the transit rate of the vehicles to be increased.

The general layout suitable to achieve this is based on a platform situated facing the vehicle, rotating slowly or at a standstill, facing a passageway of the station.

Platform and passageway are very advantageously at the same level as the floor of a vehicle cabin, the gap separating the platform and floor and the platform and passageway being a minimum. A minimum gap is a distance separating the platform and floor or the platform and passageway enabling the passengers to move between the platform and floor and between the platform and passageway.

When the turntable is rotated, the platform and vehicle rotate together very slowly with respect to the fixed passageway enabling loading/unloading of passengers between the vehicle and the passageway. Furthermore, when the turntable rotates, there is no relative movement between the vehicle and the platform thereby facilitating loading/unloading of passengers with reduced mobility.

According to another feature of the invention, a method is proposed for performing a change of direction of an automotive vehicle rolling on carrying cables of an aerial carrier.

The method comprises a rotation of a turntable supporting rails and a platform, the rotation being performed when the vehicle is stopped on the rails facing the platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments and implementation modes of the invention given for non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in the appended drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate two views, respectively a side and top view, of an embodiment of a station of an aerial installation according to the invention;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a side view of another embodiment of a station;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a station in which the turntable occupies an initial position;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a top view of the station illustrated in FIG. 3 in which a vehicle is stopped on the turntable;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a front view of another embodiment of a station;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a front view of another embodiment of a station;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a top view of the station illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the turntable has performed a rotation;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a top view of the station illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the turntable occupies a departure position; and

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIGS. 1 to 8; 9 and 10, a station 5 of an aerial installation comprising vehicles 1 has been represented. Vehicles 1 are automotive and equipped with rollers 25 configured to roll on carrying cables 3 of the installation. Station 5 comprises a turntable 6 supporting rolling rails 7 designed to receive a vehicle 1, and a platform 8 securedly united to turntable 6. Station 5 comprises a passageway 10 and turntable 6 is able to move in rotation with respect to passageway 10. Station 5 further comprises a motor 26 configured to move turntable 6 in rotation, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 10.

Platform 8 securedly united to turntable 6 is therefore movable, but platform 8 does not have a relative movement with a stopped vehicle 1 as it is alongside vehicle 1, facing the doors 12 of vehicle 1 when they are open.

This platform 8 is rectilinear on the inside facing a vertical axis of rotation Z of turntable 6, and comprises a circle arc shaped outer edge on the outside, the centre of the circle arc being the vertical axis of rotation Z of turntable 6.

Passageway 10 is fixed and fits snugly with the circle arc described by platform 8 when vehicle 1 is in station 5 during loading/unloading of passengers 2. Passageway 10 does not have any relative speed of movement with respect to platform 8 when platform 8 has returned to a waiting position awaiting the next vehicle, illustrated in FIG. 3.

It is then possible to describe how loading/unloading of passengers 2 takes place, in safe, comfortable and efficient manner.

The next upcoming vehicle is on line 20, and rails 7 and securedly united platform 8 are in place, in the waiting position, motionless and ready to accommodate said vehicle.

Landing doors 9 installed on platform 8 are closed and passengers 2 wishing to embark can access platform 8, via passageway 10, without a speed differential between the two, which is particularly suitable for persons with reduced mobility.

Vehicle 1 enters station 5, passes from carrying cables 3 to rails 7 and stops at its scheduled location, cabin doors 12 of vehicle 1 and landing doors 9 which are facing one another opening at the same time.

Unloading/loading then begins at the same time as rotation of vehicle 1 and of platform 8, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Passengers 2 in the cabin can unload on platform 8 which is movable with respect to passageway 10 to access passageway 10 to proceed to the exit, via stairways or elevators.

Platform 8 moves in front of passageway 10 with a very low circumferential speed difference. Turntable 6 in motion has been represented in FIG. 6, the very slow speed of rotation of the latter enabling passengers 2 in the cabin to continue unloading and enabling those who are waiting to load, until turntable 6 stops in the departure position in which vehicle 1 is ready to depart on the next line 21.

After rotation of table 6, table 6 occupies the departure position illustrated in FIG. 7 wherein cabin doors 12 and landing doors 9 close simultaneously and loading is terminated (if it isn't, vehicle 1 remains waiting). In the departure position, vehicle 1 is in the axis of next line 21, ready to depart, with landing doors 9 closed.

Platform 8 is stopped, the last passengers have unloaded, and in particular persons with reduced mobility can access passageway 10.

Cabin doors 12 and landing doors 9 are closed and vehicle 1 can start off and move from rails 7 of turntable 6 onto carrying cables 3 of next line 21.

Once vehicle 1 is on carrying cables 3, turntable 6—rails 7 and platform 8—returns at a slow circumferential speed to the waiting position waiting for the next vehicle to arrive. Barriers 11 can be placed on a perimeter of passageway 10 so that, throughout the rotation operation of table 6, passageway 10 always gives access to platform 8, whether it is moving or motionless.

In general manner, a first line 20 of the installation, called incoming line 20, extends along an entry axis X, and a second line 21 of the installation, called outgoing line, extends along an exit axis Y inclined at an angle of deflection W with respect to entry axis X.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, station 5 is situated at the intersection of the two lines 20, 21.

These arrangements can apply:

-   -   regardless of whether the angle of deflection W is reflex or         salient (up to a certain minimum value) which requires a         particular adaptation;     -   mainly for performing loading/unloading in/from cabins having         side doors 12 on one side only.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, loading/unloading is performed on the opposite side from the salient angle of deflection W. As illustrated in FIG. 8, loading/unloading is performed on the side of the sector defined by the salient angle of deflection W.

Vertical axis of rotation Z of turntable 6 is advantageously placed at the crossing point of entry axis X and exit axis Y of lines 20, 21 of carrying cables 3.

This layout is not compulsory but it is the most functional, the most compact, the most economical, and also the one that is shortest in terms of transit time of vehicle 1.

The configuration of station 5, in particular in urban transport, may require another position of axis of rotation Z on which the outer edge of platform 8, and an outer edge of passageway 10, remain centred.

In FIGS. 5 and 10, levelling between passageway 10, platform 8 and a floor 22 of vehicle 1 has been represented.

In FIG. 1, vehicle 1 transporting passengers 2 rolls on carrying cables 3 supported on lines 20, 21 by towers 4. Vehicle 1 stops in station 5, called intermediate angle station, to perform loading and/or unloading of passengers 2. Rails 7 can be placed directly on table 6 (FIG. 5) or on a high structure 23 (FIG. 10) depending on whether the cabin of vehicle 1 presents itself respectively in the “ground level” position or in the “suspended” position. Rails 7 are preferentially horizontal. More particularly, rails 7 are situated at the same level as the ends of carrying cables 3 of incoming line 20 and outgoing line 21. Rails 7 are further positioned in the extension of carrying cables 3 of incoming line 20 when table 6 is in its waiting position, and positioned in the extension of carrying cables 3 of outgoing line 21 when turntable 6 is in its departure position. According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, rails 7 are situated below the level of floor 22. According to another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, rails 7 are situated above doors 12 of vehicle 1. In this case, the cabin of vehicle 1 is in the low position with respect to carrying cables 3. Station 5 is thus suitable for different heights of the ends of carrying cables 3 of lines 20, 21. Access to mobile platform 8 is done via fixed circular passageway 10. Barriers 11 secure the flow on fixed passageway 10 whatever the position of mobile platform 8. Landing doors 9 close the access to vehicle 1 if it is absent.

Station 5 can be completely automated and operates in the following manner: vehicle 1 enters station 5 moving from carrying cables 3 of incoming line 20 to rails 7 securedly united to turntable 6. As soon as vehicle 1 has stopped, landing doors 9 open at the same time as doors 12 of vehicle 1. Passengers 2 of vehicle 1, in particular persons with reduced mobility, can start to unload on platform 8. Turntable 6 then starts to move slowly, unloading continues and loading can start at the same time and continue until turntable 6 stops in the departure position to the next outgoing line 21. On completion of the programmed stopping time of vehicle 1 in station 5, landing doors 9 and doors 12 of vehicle 1 close simultaneously before departure. After vehicle 1 has moved from rails 7 to carrying cables 3 of outgoing line 21, turntable 6 starts moving in the opposite direction to return to the position waiting for the next vehicle coming from incoming line 20.

Due to the invention that has been described in the foregoing, the passengers can proceed from the vehicle to the platform whereas the vehicle and platform are immobile with respect to one another, the passengers can then wait on the platform during rotation of the table, and when the table is at a standstill in its waiting position, these passengers can proceed from the platform to the passageway whereas the platform and passageway are not moving with respect to one another. The invention thereby greatly facilitates loading/unloading of persons with reduced mobility who can proceed from the vehicle to the passageway, via the platform, without any relative movement between the vehicle and platform and between the platform and passageway. 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A station of an aerial carrier on cable, comprising automotive vehicles designed to roll on carrying cables of the carrier and a turntable to perform a change of direction of the vehicles, the turntable supporting rails configured to support a vehicle stopped facing a platform securedly united to the turntable.
 8. The station according to claim 7, wherein the platform is at the same level as the floor of the vehicle stopped on the rails, with a minimum gap separating the platform and floor.
 9. The station according to claim 7, wherein the rails are situated at the same level as the ends of the carrying cables in the station, and that the rails are situated below the floor of the vehicle stopped on the rails, or above the doors of the vehicle stopped on the rails.
 10. The station according to claim 7, comprising a fixed passageway at the same level as the platform one edge of which is a circle arc centred on a vertical axis of rotation of the turntable, with a minimum gap separating the platform and passageway.
 11. The station according to claim 7, wherein the platform comprises landing doors opening and closing simultaneously with doors of the vehicle stopped on the rails.
 12. A method for changing the direction of an automotive vehicle rolling on carrying cables of an aerial carrier, comprising a rotation of a turntable supporting rails and a platform, the rotation being performed when the vehicle is stopped on the rails facing the platform. 